Fluid-compressing means



June 1-7, 19.30.

J SEAGREN FLUID COMPRESSING MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed 'Sfept 5O 1926 INVENTOR ATTORNEY FlGhl June17, 1930. I J, SEAGREN I 1,764,753

FLUID COMPRESSING MEANS Filed Sept. 30. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY June 17,1930.

J. SEAGREN FLUID COMPRESSING MEANS L/OH INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented June 17, 1930 UNITED STATES PAT NT OFFICE JOHN SEAGREN, OF BELOI'I', WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO FAIRBANKS, MORSE & (10., OF

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS I FLUID-COMPRESSING MEANS Application filed September so, 1926. Serial No. issma.

My invention relates to improvements in fluid compressingmeans and more particularly to improvementsin fiuid compressor construction and means for cooling compressed gases.

The object of my invention is to provide a more simple, more efficient and less expensive means of cooling compressed gasbe tween stages of compression, or after its ori inal compression.

K further object is to'provide an intercooling means integral with the compressor andmanufactured as a part thereof, so as to eliminate auxiliary cooling and connecting devices, such as heretofore employed.

A further. object of my invention is to provide an air compressor cooling system equally adapted to the use of a closed circulating arrangement or to the use of a hopper system of cooling. Q

Further objects and advantages of my device will appear from the drawings, and a detailed description thereof.

By way'of illustration I show my cooling system as applied to an air compressor. This same arrangement may, however, be employed wherever a suitable arrangement of parts is adapted to be cooled by a liquid cooling medium.

It is the usual practice in multi-stage gas or air-compressors to provide cooling means between stages. In the past this has been accomplished by a separate unit intercooler either connected by piping outside the assembly, or by locating the intercooler about the cylinder or in the base. My preferred construction is to cast the intercooler; integral with the cylinders and base, thus eliminating all coils and piping.

The typical cooling-water systems at pres ent employed are the closed circulating system and the open, hopper cooling method, the latter being advantageous where the water supply is limited or not readily available. In multistage compressors of this sort now on the market the hopper is cast with the cylinders, compelling the exclusive use ofYthis method of cooling. In my de vice I employ a separately formed hopper which may be boltedfto the'cylinder head when hopper cooling is desired. Its removal permits the use of the more efiicient closed circulation system where conditions permit. This advantage of alternate cooling systems is of great value in portable compressors Which are usually subjected to every variety of operating conditions.

'Although my invention consists largely in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims, yet I do not limit my invention to the precise form or construction of parts shown or the several parts 7 thereof, inasmuch as variousalterations may be made without changing the scope of my invention. y v

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a vertical elevation, partly in section, of a twostage compressor embodying the present in-' vention; Fig. 2 is a showing similar to Fig. 1, showing the construction and relation of an auxiliary intercooler attachment, the section being indicated, on Fig. 3; Fig. 3 is a topv plan view of. the cylinder block, along the plane 3+3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a plan view of thelowerfsurface of the cylinder head as indicated in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a frag mentary vertical section along line 5-5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertlcal section taken on line-66 in Fig. 1; and F 1gs. 7 and 8 show, respectively, vertical side elevations of the intercooler and intercooler cover. i i p 1 Referring by numerals to the drawings, 10 represents a preferred form of the cylinder and base casting. The cylinder block may be cast separate from the base proper, although I prefer to use a single casting for both. With the low and high pressure cylinders 11 and 11, preferably of dlfferent diameters, are associated pistons 12 and 12'. Connecting rods 13 and 13 serve operatively to connect the pistons with the crank shaft 14, on which may be mounted a drive pulley and fly wheel 15.

The upper end of the cylinder block is fitted with a removable cylinder head 16, in which are provided the valve assemblies, air channels and cooling water passages. The course of the air or fluid, as well as the fea-' tures of construction of the-apparatus, will be best understood by tracing the fluid flow through theseveral air passages and stages of compression. 7 I I Referring particularly to Fig. 5, atmospheric air is drawn through an opening 17 into a passage 18 formed in thecylinder block 10; from this passage the air is conducted through an opening 19' below the suction valve 20. During the suction stroke of piston 12, the valve 20 is lifted and permits the air to flow to the cylinder 11, through the channel 21. The first stage compression then takes place, and the compressed fluid, heated by compression, is forced from the cylinder 11 into the opening 22." The compression causes a spring-loaded discharge valve 23 to lift, permitting the compressed air to pass into the channel 24 formed in the cylinder head 16. Each of the described valves is, by preference, formed as illustrated by the discharge valve 23, (see Fig. 1). The valves shown are of conventional type, and arranged to be opened and closed, automatically, by fluid pressure coacting with the usual springs. The discharge channel 24, leading from the first cylinder, or stage, is in communication with an opening 25 forming the entrance of an air conduit 26 in the cylinderblock casting, (best shown inv dotted lines in Fig.2). The compressed air is forced through this conduit 26, to the opening 27 in an intercooler 28. The intercooler is, in the present example, cast inte ral with the'cylinder and base castinglO. The opening 27 constitutes part of a tortuous air -channel 29, 'which forms a serpentine passage for the air, through the intercooler 28. The air travels back and forth, through the passages 29, until it'impinges upon a. dividing wall 30, (see Figs, 3 and 7), which diverts the air through an opening 31 into the intercooler cover 32. The intercooler cover 325is, by preference, formed of hollow construction in order to provide an expansion space for the air to be cooled; although the intercooler cover may be formed, as shown in Fig. '2, so as to extend the air' channel 29 into the cover, in order to increase, where necessary, the cooling capacity of the unit; The cover 32 is provided with a baffle wall 33 (see Figs. 1 and 3), which compels theair to circulate through the cover, and tends to thereby remove entailed moisture,which is released from the air and is removable through a plugged drain opening 34.

After having traversed the intercooler, the cooled air passes from the cover 32 through an opening 35,(see Fig. 3), which communicates with an air channel 36 formed in the cylinder block casting, terminating in an opening or pocket 37, (see Figs. 3 and 6). The high or second stage of compression, identified with piston 12, receives its air supply from the channel 36. During the suction stroke of piston 12, the air is forced or drawn from channel 36 through the openings 37 and 38, (see Fig. 6), so that opening of the intake valve 39 permits an air flow through a passage 40, which may be formed like. the corresponding passage 21, and thence into the cylinder 11. The second stage compression forces compressed air into the opening 41 in the cylinder head 16 (see Fig. 6), and lifts the high pressure outlet valve 42,.permitting the air to discharge through a channel 43 in the head casting, and thence into an'opening 44 which communicates directly with a discharge opening 45. Pipe connection may be made to the opening. 45, which may be tapped for this purpose, to distribute the compressed fluid to'a receiver or to any desired location.

The cooling system is so constructed that the compressor may be cooled either by a closed circulation system, or an open hopper system. Vith the use of hopper cooling, a hopper 46 may be made of any suitable material, preferably cast iron, and is provided with openings '47 and 48 which register, respectively, with openings 49 and 50 in'the' head 16. Water from the hopper thus flows through the openings 49 and 50, into the cooling water passages 51 of the head 16; from the cylinder head, the cooling water is conducted through openings 52 and 54, in the head 16, and in register, respectively, with openings 53 and 55 of the cylinder and block'casting and thereby distrih uted to the water jackets 56, of usual, cast-in constructionQ By maintaining a sufficient depth of water in the hopper, the cylinders and the intercooling air channels are watercooled, being substantially surrounded by the various portions of the water cooling jacket 56.

When the compressor has been in operation for a time, a rapid water circulation is induced, starting from the relatively highly heated portion of the water jacket in the vicinity of the intercooler and high pressure cylinder. Practically all the vapor bubbles will rise on this side (assuming for example, that the compressor is of vertical construction, as shown) and will entrain with them some water, thus setting up a convection current. The water rising on this particular side, through the openings 54 and 55, and thereafter cooling in the hopper and returning to the system through openings 52 and 53, thus establishes a definite and distinct cooling-water circulation, which is particularly adapted to the improved arrangement described. 1

When using a closed circulation system, the hopper -46 is dispensed with, and one of the openings 49 or 50, is plugged. The inlet cooling water is, in this case, preferably introduced through opening 57 in the intercooler cover 32, and flows through passage 58 into the water-jacket 56, the water rising through the openings 52 and 54 and being removed from an outlet connected with the free opening 49 or 50.

It will be seen that the described cooling system affords an unusual and novel arrangement, in its adaptability to a variety of service conditions. It will further appear to those skilled in the art that the novel construction and arrangement of the intercooler and its connecting passages, constitutes a trouble-proof structure which eliminates many of the usual auxiliary parts and connections, and is compact and economical of manufacture, in fulfillment of the objects set forth above.

I claim:

1. In a fluid compressor, a jacketed cylinder, a compressed fluid cooling means disposed in the lower portion of the cylinder jacket, connecting means between said cylinder and cooling means, said cylinder, cooling means, and connecting means being cast as a unit.

2. In a fluid compressor, a cylinder comprising a cooling jacket, a piston therein, a cooling chamber comprising a plurality of communicating cells, and disposed in the lower part of said acket, and a conduit connecting said cylinder and cooling chamber, said cylinder, chamber and conduit being permanently and integrally interconnected.

3. In an air compressor, a plurality of cylinders providing a series of stages of compression, pistons in said cylinders, a chamber adapted to cool compressed air, a conduit connecting said cylinders and said chamber, and a cooling-water jacket,-said cylinders, chamber, conduit and acket'being cast integrally; the air cooling chamber being disposed in substantially the lowest part of the cooling jacket. 1

4;. In an air compressor, an integrally cast cylinder block, comprising a cylinder,

an air cooling chamber, an air conduit, a'

water jacket and a crank case; said block being provided with a removable head, said cooling chamber being disposed above the crank case and in substantially the lowest portion of the water acket.

5. In an air compressor, an integrally cast cylinder block, comprising a cylinder, an air cooling chamber, an air conduit, a water jacket extending substantially above said cooling chamber, and a crank case "a piston in saidcylinder, actuating means therefor, and a cylinder head for said cylinder block removably mounted thereon. 6. Inan air c0mpressor,a cylinder block integrally cast, comprising a cylinder, an air cooling chamberQan air conduit, a water jacket and a crank case; a'piston in said cylinder and" actuating meansgforsaid piston, a cylindenhead for said cylinder block removably mounted thereon, said head having valves therein, and water passages therethrough; Sand a reservoir removably mounted on said head andin communication therewith, said removable reservoir embodying means whereby said water jacket may be interchangeably used for closed and open circulation systems.

7. A fluid compressor and cooler, comprising a cylinder, a piston therein, actuating means for said piston, a water jacket about said cylinder, compressed fluid conducting passages and compressed fluid cooling passages in said water jacket, the jacket extending substantially above .said cooling passages, said cylinder, water jacket, conducting passages and cooling passages being formed in an integral structure.

8. In a multi-stage air compressor, a plurality of cylinders, aistons therein and operating means for said pistons,an intercooler comprising a tortuous air cooling passage, a water jacket adapted to cool said cylinders and intercooler and extending substantially above the intercooler, air conducting passages in said water jacket; said cylinders, intercooler, water jacket and air passages belng formed in an integral structure.

9. In a multi-stage air compressor, a plurality of cylinders, pistons therein and op erating means for said pistons, an intercooler, air passages between said intercooler and cylinders, a water acket about said cylinders, intercooler and air passages; a crank case for said compressor, said cylinders, intercooler, air passages, water jacket and crank case comprising parts of a single casting.

10.'In a fluid compressor, an integrally cast block com tirising a cylinder, tortuous cooling passages, a cooling jacket and a crank case, said cooling passages being grouped in substantially the lowest portion of the cooling jacket, and arranged to conduct the compressed fluid repeatedly across the cooling acket.

11. In a fluid compressor, an integrally cast block comprising a cylinder, a cooling jacket, and a'series of cast-in, tortuous passages to cool and circulate the compressed fluid.

12. A multi-stage vertical air compressor,

comprising in combination a plurality of cylinders, pistons therein, operating'means for said pistons, an lntercooler comprlslng a series of castin tortuous air-passages, connecting air passages between said cylinders and said intercooler, a coolingqvaterjacket about said cylinders, intercooler' and c0nnecting air passages, and a'crank-case; said cylinders, intercooler, connecting air passages, Water jacket and crank case being formed in a single integral casting; said cylinders being provided with a removable head and a hopper adapted to be mounted on saidxhead; said head and said hopper comprising means whereby said water jacket may be interchangeably used for closed and open circulation systems.

JOHN SEAGREN. 

